Framed Vintage Navy Posters

Few things are more aggressively patriotic than the military. Throughout the course of history, supporting an individual’s country has always seemed to go hand – in – hand with supporting their military efforts, particularly during wartime, and this phenomenon has led to a whole host of advertising and public opinion campaigns to recruit, engage, and enlist the public on a variety of levels.
From an artistic standpoint, framed vintage navy posters provide an interesting insight into this phenomenon and create a fun, colorful lens through which to view the events of American military history.

One of the most fascinating early framed vintage navy arts is a piece entitled “Don’t Read American History, Make It.” It is titled thusly because of the inscription on this piece itself, which flanks the two central figures in the picture—a well – dressed young civilian man with a newspaper and an attractive, well – built sailor in Navy uniform. The two are set against a water-colored backdrop with Columbia, personification of the American spirit, in the background.

Framed Vintage Navy Art

A framed vintage Navy poster titled “Follow the Flag” appeals to the sense of American patriotism. A rugged – looking, handsome Navy soldier brandishes the American flag on a sandy beach next to a message encouraging Americans to “follow the flag” by enlisting in the Navy. It even provides an address for the nearest recruiting station!

A similar theme is evident in “Uphold Our Honor,” which implies that the United States and its flag are only worth as much as their reputations abroad. It implores the viewer to help defend those reputations, and continue to keep the flag flying, by lending their aid to the war efforts in any manner possible.